Chapter 5

SARAH 

The next morning, the air was thick with urgency as everyone gathered to organize the search for Sophia.

Sarah jolted awake when Glenn lightly shook her arm. She stretched her back, shaking off the remnants of sleep, and watched as Glenn made his way to the bathroom. She took a moment to assess the scene around her. Dale was kneeling beside T-Dog, who looked worse for wear—sweaty and clearly exhausted.

"How's our patient?" Sarah asked, moving closer.

"I slept," T-Dog replied, though his voice was strained. "But it hurts like a bitch."

Sarah nodded sympathetically. She couldn't imagine the pain he was in, especially after seeing the severity of his wound. She had been fortunate to get her cut stitched up, but T-Dog's injury was far more serious. She hoped the makeshift treatment they had given him would hold.

Nearby, Andrea was quietly preparing her bag. Sarah had noticed the tension between her and Nicki the night before, and it lingered in the air like a cloud. Andrea had always seemed more open before the CDC; now, she seemed withdrawn and angry. Sarah wanted to reach out but felt uncertain how to bridge that gap.

Carol emerged from the RV's bedroom, already dressed in comfortable clothes and carrying a bag over her shoulder. She looked as if she hadn't slept at all; her eyes were red and filled with a profound sadness that weighed heavily on her.

Sarah offered a weak smile, and Carol attempted to return it, though it was strained. It pained Sarah to see Carol like this, a mother in turmoil over her missing daughter. She couldn't begin to imagine the depth of that sorrow, but she felt an urge to help, to do something to ease that pain.

Once she hopped down from the RV, Sarah shielded her eyes from the sun, scanning for her sister. After a moment, she spotted Nicki sitting on the hood of a car, engaged in conversation with Rick. Shane was nearby, preparing his rifle, while Lori stood next to Carol's car with Carl, where they had all slept. Nicki appeared fine, animatedly talking to Rick, so Sarah made her way over to Lori.

"Morning," she greeted as she approached.

"Good morning," Lori replied with a warm smile. "Everything good last night?"

"All good," Sarah confirmed, then glanced back at Nicki. "Same goes for her, apparently."

"Are you worried?" Lori asked, concern flickering across her face.

"Aren't we all?" Sarah took a breath, trying to shake off the lingering anxiety. Her eyes drifted to Daryl, who was stationed by the guard rail. "But I feel that we are safe together."

"That's true," Lori agreed, nodding.

"And together we'll find Sophia," Carl chimed in from beside his mother, his blue eyes shining with determination. It amazed Sarah how much strength the boy exuded, especially at such a young age. He reminded her of his father, brave and resolute.

"Of course, we will," Sarah said, a smile spreading across her face at Carl's confidence. Turning her attention back to Daryl, she excused herself from Lori and Carl and walked toward him.

"Hey," she called out as she closed the distance, catching Daryl's attention. He turned to her, a small frown on his face.

"Hey," he replied, shifting his gaze back to the trees.

"Where are we heading today?" Sarah asked, crossing her arms over her chest, feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves.

"Ya comin'?" Daryl asked, glancing in her direction.

"Sure," she said with a nod. "Carol is... my friend, I think. But most importantly, Sophia could be my sister." The admission felt heavy but necessary. "I want to find her, and I think we will."

Daryl seemed surprised, his gaze shifting as he studied her. He chewed the side of his cheek, and Sarah felt her cheeks heat under his scrutiny.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Sarah asked, feeling a wave of shyness wash over her. Instead of responding, Daryl shrugged his shoulders, his expression unreadable.

He was such a strange man. Daryl could be so rough and angry one moment and then quiet and uncertain the next—almost shy. The contrast amused her, and she couldn't help but smile at the thought of someone so strong being so timid at times.

"What?" he asked suddenly, making her jump a little. She hadn't expected him to speak again.

"What?" Sarah replied, slightly confused.

"What's with that expression?" he asked, waving a finger in front of her face.

"Nothing," she said, her smile widening. "Just... thank you for making my sister feel better."

Daryl frowned slightly as if he didn't quite understand.

"I heard you talking to Nicki," she explained. "You really helped her. I don't feel like I can do that right now."

It hadn't been long since the outbreak, but it felt like a lifetime. Sarah felt older, watching her sister grow up in this harsh new world, and the people around her had become a makeshift family. She found herself forgetting the sound of her parents' voices more each day, and that realization terrified her. It was strange to be alive while the world crumbled around them. Too many worries loomed over her—things she felt unprepared for and others she knew she had to confront soon.

"What are ya talking about?" Daryl scoffed, breaking her reverie. "You think too much; that's your problem." Sarah raised an eyebrow, almost amused.

"Oh, so you've got it all figured out?" she shot back, crossing her arms and smiling at him. Daryl glanced at her, a flicker of mischief in his eyes before he nodded.

"Yeah," he said, and her grin widened as she caught a hint of a smile on his face.

"Is that a smile I see?" she asked, surprised. "Are you laughing at me?"

Daryl snorted a rare sound that broke through his usual stoicism. "Yeah," he admitted, and Sarah chuckled, watching him kick at the ground with his right foot. This softer side of Daryl was new to her. They'd fought and yelled, and he'd saved her life more than once, but they had never really shared a calm moment like this. He was still distant, but she could see him starting to open up to the group, and it made her feel good. Almost proud that she had coaxed a smile from him.

"Don't get too cocky, sir," she teased playfully. "I may be an anxious wreck, but I've got a few aces up my sleeve." He bit his lip, nodding as he looked down, a small, amused smile lingering on his face.

"Can I wait here?" Nicki's voice broke through the tension as she perched herself on the guardrail, resting her bow between her legs. Her eyes were shut, and her expression was a mix of annoyance and weariness.

"What happened?" Sarah asked, frowning at her sister's demeanor. Nicki let out a sigh.

"Andrea and Dale are arguing," she said, her tone laced with frustration. Sarah glanced over at the RV, where Dale and Andrea stood outside, their conversation heated. Andrea looked visibly upset, while Dale appeared confused and gloomy.

"What's going on?" Sarah wondered aloud, noticing Glenn approaching them with an awkward gait, adjusting his white hat as he came closer.

"Andrea's still angry," Glenn explained, his eyes darting between the two groups. Sarah's heart sank. Andrea hadn't spoken to Dale since the CDC incident, and the tension between them was palpable.

"It was bound to happen sooner or later," Sarah said softly. "I just hope they're going to be alright."

A few moments later, Carol, Rick, Lori, Shane, and Carl approached, the air heavy with unspoken words as they glanced toward Andrea.

"Alright," Rick said, gathering everyone's attention. "We'll go back to where we stopped yesterday. Then we'll follow Daryl." Daryl nodded in agreement. "I want everyone to stay close, quiet, and alert. We're going to find her." The group nodded in unison, determination etched on their faces.

"Hey," Glenn said, nudging Sarah's arm. She turned to find him holding out a large knife with a black and orange handle. It looked imposing, heavy in her hands.

"Where did you find this?" she exclaimed, eyes wide as she examined the sharp blade.

"I didn't," Glenn replied with a sheepish grin. "Carl did. It was probably the best thing we could find."

Sarah couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, I guess I'm ready for anything now," she said, tucking the knife into her belt. The weight of it felt reassuring. As they prepared to head out, she stole a glance at Nicki, who seemed lost in thought and felt a surge of determination. They were all in this together, and they would find Sophia.

"Don't let him hear that," Nicki said, adjusting the quiver on her shoulder. "He'll never let it go otherwise." Sarah chuckled, appreciating the familiar bickering that always seemed to happen between Nicki and Carl.

"Let's go," Rick called, prompting everyone to move forward.

As they walked through the woods, the group fell into a careful silence, each member scanning their surroundings for any sign of movement. Daryl led the way, flanked by Rick, while Andrea and Carol followed closely behind. Glenn, Sarah, and Nicki trailed next, with Lori and Carl bringing up the rear, followed by Shane.

"We'll find her," Sarah assured Glenn, glancing over with a determined look.

"You seem very sure," he replied, a hint of anxiety in his voice.

Sarah shrugged. "You helped Rick, and it turned out he's Carl's dad. Life's tough right now, but we've seen some miracles. We just need one more."

Glenn turned to her with a smile, nodding his head as they walked. Suddenly, Sarah noticed Nicki turning around with a little frown. She did that a couple of times; she looked behind and then turned ahead, walking, and then again turned. Sarah followed her gaze to look at Lori walking next to Carl, who had a sad expression on his face.

"What's going on?" Sarah asked softly as she caught up with Nicki.

"Shane's spending too much time with Andrea," she said, making Sarah frown. "He's getting bitchy" Sarah's frown couldn't help but get deeper. Lately, Andrea and Nicki have behaved strangely around one another, even though Sarah has never seen them talk to each other.

"What's the issue with you and Andrea?" Sarah pressed, glancing toward the woman up ahead.

"She's not my favorite person," Nicki replied simply, shrugging off the question.

"But why not?"

Nicki sighed, pushing aside a low branch as they continued walking. "It's not like we chose who to survive with. I guess I'm lucky I don't like only one person."

Sarah nodded, following along but still feeling a little confused. The atmosphere had shifted recently, and she wasn't sure what to make of it.

As they moved forward, the group began to slow down. Had they spotted something? Curiosity piqued, Sarah quickened her pace to get a better look. Daryl was ahead, signaling for silence as he knelt down, followed closely by Rick, Andrea, and Carol.

Getting on her tiptoes, Sarah strained to see what had caught their attention. A tent lay a few feet away, quiet and abandoned.

"She could be in there," Shane said, stopping next to Sarah, his voice low.

"Could be a whole bunch of things in there," Daryl cautioned, rising to his feet and making his way toward the tent.

As they approached, Sarah noticed Rick whispering something to Carol, who began calling for her daughter's name. The tension hung thick in the air as Lori turned to Carl and Nicki.

"Stay close to me," she instructed, and both kids nodded, their expressions serious.

As they got closer, no one answered Carol. Daryl walked up to the tent, setting his crossbow down and drawing his knife, ready to defend himself in case a walker was inside.

Sarah could feel her heart beating like a drum in her chest as she watched Daryl slowly open the tent. She hoped that Sophia was inside, but when no response came, she began to fear there might be a walker waiting to attack Daryl.

He disappeared inside the tent as Rick moved closer, coughing in disgust. Sarah strained to listen, relieved that there were no sounds of a struggle, but why was Daryl taking so long?

Turning to Carol, who wore a terrified expression, Sarah noticed Lori moving closer to offer her comfort. Had Daryl found Sophia?

"Daryl," Carol called, her voice trembling. Sarah itched to move closer to the tent but felt Glenn's grip on her shoulders, keeping her in place.

"Daryl," Carol called again just as Daryl emerged from the tent. Sarah exhaled, relieved to see he was unharmed, but her heart sank when she realized he was alone. She turned to Carol, who was struggling to hold back a sob.

"What's in there?" Andrea asked, her curiosity evident.

"Some guy," Daryl explained, his tone matter-of-fact. "Did what Jenner said. Opted out. Ain't that what he called it?" Sarah couldn't help but glare in his direction before turning to Andrea, who looked down at the ground.

Suddenly, the sound of bells echoed in the air, causing them all to look up and around, trying to pinpoint its source. After a moment, they started to run, following Rick through the woods. Sarah glanced back to ensure Nicki was close and saw her running alongside Carol. Satisfied, she turned back, adjusting her bag for better mobility.

"What direction?" Shane asked as they reached a clearing.

"I think that way," Rick said, pointing ahead.

"Yeah?" Sarah asked, taking deep breaths.

"I'm pretty sure."

She hoped he was right; it was difficult to determine where the sound had originated. It felt like it could be coming from any direction.

"If we heard them, then maybe Sophia does, too," Carol said, as Glenn moved closer to her.

"Someone's ringing those bells, maybe calling others," he suggested.

"Or signaling that they found her," Andrea added.

"She could be ringing them herself," Rick said. They were throwing out possibilities, but the only way to know was to find the source of the sound.

They kept running through the woods, and Sarah felt her heart racing with a sense of hope. If they were right, they might find Sophia and maybe even other survivors—a safe place.

"Wait, did it stop?" Nicki asked at one point, making Sarah realize the sound was no longer audible.

"Wasn't far," Daryl said as they continued running.

Moments later, they arrived at what appeared to be a graveyard, with a church at its center. But looking at it, Sarah couldn't help but frown in disappointment.

"That can't be it," she said, panting lightly.

"She's right," Shane said, mirroring her disappointment. "Got no steeple, no bells."

"Could there be another?" Sarah turned to Glenn. "Maybe on the map—"

"Rick!" she heard Shane say before turning to see Rick running towards the church. They exchanged glances before quickly following him.

As they reached the side of the church, Rick gestured for everyone to stay quiet. He and Shane led the group, while Sarah was next to Glenn, with Daryl right behind them. When they got closer to the church steps, Daryl extended his arm in front of Sarah and Glenn, signaling them to stop.

"Stay here," he said before sprinting up the stairs.

Sarah watched as Rick and Daryl exchanged a glance before opening the heavy door. What lay inside was truly unsettling; three walkers were sitting on the pews, staring blankly ahead as if they were praying.

"That's disturbing," Sarah remarked, shivering slightly as Daryl quickly handed her his crossbow and Glenn passed him his knife.

With a swift motion, Daryl, Rick, and Shane entered the church and took down the three walkers one by one. Thankfully, it was easy; they were all unharmed. Once the danger was gone, Rick called out for Sophia, but Sarah's eyes scanned the room, hoping to catch a glimpse of the little girl. She couldn't see her anywhere. There might be a room in the back of the church.

As she searched for a door, the bells started ringing again. They all paused, looking up in confusion before starting to run. Daryl was so quick to escape the church that he almost knocked Sarah over. Just managing to avoid a collision, she followed closely behind Daryl and Glenn as they led the group toward the back of the church, stopping in disappointment when they spotted a speaker mounted on the roof.

"No..." she muttered, her heart sinking, just before Glenn rushed to the battery to silence the noise.

"Timer," Daryl said, panting as the others caught up with him. "It's on a timer."

Sarah could see the disappointment etched on everyone's faces. She had truly thought they had found Sophia. This whole situation felt like a cruel joke.

"I'm gonna go back in for a bit," Carol said, trying to hold back tears as she started toward the church, with Lori following close behind.

"Want to get inside too?" Glenn asked, but Sarah shook her head.

"No," she replied, fatigue weighing on her. "I need some air. See you later." She glanced at Nicki, who stared back at her before entering the church with Carl.

Taking a deep breath, Sarah walked to the other side of the church and settled under a tree. Her breaths were labored, and her legs ached a bit.

"I should really get in shape," she muttered to herself, gripping the knife in her right hand while tugging at the grass with her left. She looked up at the leaves rustling above her. It was the end of summer; the weather was still pleasant. But winter would be creeping in soon. She was sure they would find Sophia before the cold set in, but the nights were already starting to chill. Sarah hoped Sophia had found a safe place to hide, something to eat, something to keep warm.

She wondered what she would do in Sophia's place; she had never ventured out alone. She was always with friends, family, or her boyfriend. The thought of being alone terrified her—she knew she would get lost. Even now, she had no idea where they were. She knew they were in Georgia, but that was about it.

As they walked through the woods, Sarah watched Daryl closely, trying to understand how he managed to track their path. She saw nothing on the ground, yet it was clear he knew exactly what to do and where to go.

In all honesty, a wave of jealousy washed over her. She felt certain she wouldn't survive alone, and that thought scared her more than anything else.

"What are you doing?" Looking up, Sarah shielded her eyes from the sun to see her sister walking closer.

"Needed some air," Sarah answered. "You?"

"Needed some time," Nicki replied, a warm breeze ruffling her wavy black hair. "Carol is crying, and I feel sorry for her." Sarah nodded, understanding just how difficult this must be for Carol.

"She blames herself," Nicki continued, piquing Sarah's curiosity.

"Why?" Sarah asked.

"She wished for Ed's death," Nicki said, sitting down next to Sarah and taking a deep breath, shaking her head. Sarah knew how her sister felt about Ed; she wasn't wrong in her judgment.

"I thought she was going to be here," Sarah said, leaning her back against the trunk of the tree.

Sarah said, leaning her back against the trunk of the tree.

"Yeah, I know..." Nicki replied after a moment. "Will she be okay?"

"She will," Sarah said confidently, nodding. Nicki turned to her, surprise in her eyes.

"You seem to be the only one," Nicki said calmly. "Everyone's throwing daggers at Rick."

Sarah had noticed that, too. Since Rick had returned from the woods without Sophia, he had become the target of everyone's anger, especially Carol's. It made sense; she had lost her daughter, and Rick was the last person to see her.

"You ran after him and shot an arrow," Sarah said. "It might have been risky, but you saved Rick. Nothing happened to you. No one can know what would have happened if you'd stayed hidden." Nicki nodded, absorbing her sister's words.

"I see your point," she said.

"Choices have been made; now we can only wait," Sarah said, managing a small smile.

"Oi!" Both girls looked up at Daryl's voice. Everyone was gathered near the church. "Com' here, ain't got all day."

That man surely had fast mood shifts.

Both sisters brushed off their clothes and walked towards the group. Sarah felt curious about their next move, noticing Rick and Shane deep in conversation, not far away.

"Any news?" Sarah asked, stopping next to Glenn, who shook his head, still watching the two men.

"Y'all gonna follow the creek bed back, okay?" Shane said, walking over to the group. "Daryl, you're in charge." Sarah glanced at Daryl, who wore a slight frown. "Me and Rick are just gonna hang back and search this area for another hour or so, just to be thorough."

"You're splitting us up. You sure?" Daryl replied, his brow furrowed.

"Yeah, we'll catch up to you," Shane answered, taking a breath.

"I want to stay, too," said Carl, surprising everyone. "I'm her friend."

Rick looked at his son, then at Lori, before sharing a smile with Shane. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. It was like Carol had tried before; Sophia wouldn't be as scared if she saw familiar faces.

"Just be careful, okay?" Lori said, taking Carl's face in her hands lovingly.

"I will," he replied.

"When did you start growing up?" she said, hugging him before kissing his head.

"Still short, though," Nicki chimed in, stepping forward as Carl shot her a glare. "I want to come too." Sarah looked at her sister in surprise.

"Really?" she asked.

"I want to be useful. I don't want to go back to the RV," Nicki explained, turning to Rick. "I mean, if I can."

Rick smiled at her before looking at Sarah. "I'm good if you're good."

Sarah knew Nicki had impressed the group with her skills and attitude. She never seemed scared, and while Sarah felt anxious, she understood Nicki's desire to be useful.

"You'll be next to Rick, right?" Sarah asked, eyeing her sister.

"I promise," Nicki replied, and Sarah took a deep breath.

"Alright."

Rick walked over to Lori, giving her a reassuring kiss, promising they would be back soon. Sarah tucked a lock of her sister's hair behind her ear, silently pleading for her to be careful.

"Here, take this," Rick said, handing his gun to Lori. "Remember how to use it?" Lori shook her head.

"I'm not taking your gun and leaving you unarmed." Before Rick could respond, Daryl stepped up to Lori with a gun in hand.

"Here, got a spare," he said. Seeing her hesitation, he insisted, "Take it."

Lori looked surprised but accepted the weapon. Daryl then turned and walked past Sarah, who realized she was smiling as their eyes met.

"What?" Daryl asked with a frown, brushing past her. Sarah turned one last time to her sister, waving and hoping Nicki would be careful before following Daryl, Glenn, and the rest of the group.